Sliding window construction



May 27, 1958 A. FRANzaLAu :a1-AL 2,835,934

SLIDING WINDOW `CONSTRUCTON Filed June 1, 1955 May 27, 1958 A. FRANZBLAUETAL 2,835,934

sLIDING WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed June 1, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @ObertFranz b /czu 2,835,934 sLlDlNG WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Abraham Franzblau andRobert M. Franzblau, Hillsborough County, Fla.

Application June 1, 1955, Serial No. 512,482

7 Claims. (Cl. -20-52.2)

The present invention relates generally to sliding winatento dowconstructions and more particularly to silent sliding windowconstructions adapted to provide Weather tight seals for the Windowopenings. p

In the form of sliding window constructions to which the presentinvention is particularly directed there is provided a pair ofhorizontally sliding sashes `each being of such a size as to closelyapproximate one half of the window opening. Each of the lsashes isprovided with a longitudinal channel extending about theperiphery of thesash, the channel engaging a track in the frame of the window forslidable motion thereupon. One of the major problems encountered inwindow constructions of this ytype is the provision of a tight long-lifeweather seal for preventing the entrance of air and moisture through thewindow construction, particularly between the peripheral channels of thesliding sashes andthe rails ofthe frame. It has been the practice toinsert af packing or suitable weather stripping material in the channelsof the sashes and to crimp the ends of channels into engagement with thepacking so as to positively retain the packing fin the channel. However,such conventional means of securing the packing or weather strip in thechannels is inconvenient and difficult and does not readily lend itselfto rapid fabrication. v

.ltis an important object of the present invention to provideascii-contained weather stripping unit for slidable sashes havingperipheral channels, which units may be snapped into place in theperipheral channels of -slidable sashes.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide in a windowconstruction employing slidable sashes having peripheral channels, aweather stripping unit which may be readily inserted in the peripheralchannels of the slidable` sashes, without any other means of fasteningthan by friction.

Still 'another object of the present invention is to pro- Y vide aresilient weather strip unit for insertion in a peripheral channel of aslidable window sash, which unit, as a result of its resilientproperties, forcefully engages the sides of the channel to preventrelative motion therebetween.

f" 1C@ y 2 or weather stripping received in the sash channels to providea non-metallic lining for the sash channels which engages the metallictracks of the` frame.

Yet another object of the present invention is to pro vide a windowconstruction having a metaliic trame with tracks extending about theinner periphery of the frame, slidable sashes having peripherallyextending channels adapted to receive the tracks, non-metallic weatherstrip ping secured in the sash channels and adapted to envelop theportions of this track extending into the channels, the Vportion of thetracks extending along the sill of the frame having enlarged headportions to provide an extensive'area of contact between the `tracks andthe weather Vstri infy thereby to minimize the contact ressure betweeneach track and the weather stripping of each sash. Minimization ofcontact pressure between the tracks and the weather` stripping providesfor ease of sliding movement, thereby reducing the noise and the wear onthe slidable surfaces, particularly the weather stripping.

The window construction of the present invention fur ther `provides a`pair of horizontaily slidablesashes which completely seal the windowopening and which may be locked in the window sealing position. Eitheror both of the sashes may be wholly removed from the window frame by asimple lifting operation to provide an unobstructive window opening, andfor easy Washing and window repairs. Provision is further `matie toprevent the removal of either or both of the sashes when they Vare in awindow sealing position.

.It is, therefore, another object of the present invention 'to provide awindow construction employing slidable sashes which may be locked in aWindow sealing position or which may be completely removed when `in theopen Another problem encountered in window constructions i employinghorizontally sliding sashes is the vprovision of 'receive Atheperipheral tracks, and non-metallicpac'king position to provide a wholyunobstructed window opening.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a simplesliding window sash construction which may form a complete bar toentrance of moisture or air `when in a closed position and which may besecurely locked in said closedposition.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novelweather sealing relationship between sliding sashes and a window framewhich promotes easy window operation and also insures full protectionagainst the` entrance of moisture or air.

The above and still further features, objiects, and ad vantages of thepresent invention will become apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of a specific embodiment of theinvention, `especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying`drawings, wherein:

Figure l is an elevation illustrating a sliding window construction inaccordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 `is a section taken along the line 2-2 o Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3*?, of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 4--4 ofFigure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 5--5 ofFigure l;

v.Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken `along linee-6 ofFigure 1;

Figure 7 .is an enlarged isometric view of the sash rail and stileconstruction employed in the present invention; and

Figure .8 is an enlarged isometric view of a novel weather strip unitemployed in the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, Figure lillustrates a rectangular window frame generally indicated at 1,consisting of a head Qi, a sill 3, and two iambs 4 and 6. Slidablymounted in frame it an inner sash in the sense that it is disposedtoward the interior of the structure with which the window frame isassociated.

The head 2, sill 3, and jambs 4 and 6 are each preferably ,fabricatedfrom extruded aluminum sections, each consisting of (see Figures 3, 5,and 6) a transverse base 9, lips 1dv and 11, perpendicular to andextending along the inner and outer periphery, respectively, of the base9 and two transversely spaced tracks 12 and 13, perpendicular to andextending longitudinally along the inner periphery of the base 9 betweenthe lips 1i) and 11. The sill 3 slopes downwardly toward the outer lip11 and is provided with apertures 21B to enable drainage of water whichotherwise would be trapped between the tracks 12 and 13. The tracks 12and 13 associated with the sill 3 are provided with enlarged square headportions 14 having rounded corners. Secured between the tracks 12 and 13is a relatively thin rectangular rubber-like packing 15 and securedtothe top of the packing 15 is a weather strip unit 17. The unit 17comprises a at metallic member 18 having a lining of hair pile material19, the edges of the member 1S being crimped into engagement with thematerial 19.

The head 2 is indented between the tracks 12 and 13 to provide a recess16. Secured in the recess 16 are packing member 15 and weather stripunit 17 which are substantially identical With the packing 15 and unit17,

respectively. The units 17 and 17 cooperate with the upper and loweredges, respectively, of the sashes 7 and 8 to provide weather seals, aswill hereafter be described.

The inner sash 7 consists of an upper sash rail 21, a lower sash rail 22and two stiles 23 and 24. Each of the sash rails 21 and 22 is secured toeach of the stiles 23 and 24 by corner brackets 5 which may be bolted toeach of these members by screws 26. The outer sash 8 consists of anupper sash rail27, a lower cash rail 28, and stiles 29 and 31. Each ofthe upper sash rails 21 and 27 and each of the Stiles 23 and 29 arefabricated as aluminum extrusions 32, having an H-Shaped cross section(see Figure 7), which provides a first U-shaped channel 33 and a secondU-shaped channel 34. Each of the lower sash rails 22 and 28 isfabricated from an aluminum extrusion having an approximately H-shapedcross section which provides a rst U-shaped channel 37 and a secondchannel 38. Each of the stiles 24 and 31 is fabricated of aluminumextrusions having a U-shaped cross section defining a channel 39. Thechannels 33, 37, and 39 are adapted to receive a rubber-like packing 41which encases the margin of the glass of each of the panels 7 and 8 andetects a tight and permanent seal between the aluminum extrusions andthe glass.

The channels 34 of each of the sash rails 21 and 27 and each of thestiles 23 and 29 are defined by wide walls 42` and 43 and a base wall44. The side walls 42 and 43 have a tapered cross section which isthickest at its inner extremity adjacent the 'oase 44 and terminates inits outer extremity in inwardly extending anges or beads 46 and 47. Thechannels 34 are eachadapted to receive a separately fabricated weatherstripping unit 48 (see Figure 8) which may be snapped into place in thechannel 34 and retained therein by the beads 46 and 47. The weatherstrip member 43 comprises a U-shaped channel member 49 fabricated from aresilient metallic or other suitable material. A lining 51 is disposedand glued within the U-shaped channel of the member 49 and isadditionally secured therein by crimped edges 52, thereof. Secured tothe lining 51 are two rectangular packing Vmembers 53 that denc acentrally disposed passage 54 adapted to receive the track members 12and 13 of the frame 1. The outer dimensions of the unit 4S areapproximately equal to the inner dimensions of the channels 34interiorly ofV the beads 46 and 47 and, there fore, may be pressed intoposition in the channels 34.

The resilient properties of the unit 48 together with the-beads 46 and47 of the extrusion 32 maintain the walls of the unit 48 in intimatecontact with the walls 42, 43, and 44 interiorly of the beads 46 and 47.The intimate contact thus provided prevents slippage of the unit 48 andalso insures a tight weather seal between the unit 48 and the extrusion32.

When the sashes 7 and 8 are inserted in the frame 11 one of the rails 12or 13 is seated in the channel 54 provided by the packing members 53 ofthe weather striplping unit 48. The packing members 53 resilientlyengage the two sides of its associated track member to provide a doubleweather seal which results not only in an effective bar to the entranceof rain or air, but also insures silent sliding action between thesashes 7 and 8 and either of the rails 12 or 13.

When the sashes 7 and 8 are in the closed position (see Fig. 3), rail 13is seated in the channel 54 of the stile 21 and the rail 13 is seated inthe channel S4 of the stile 29, thereby providing a double weather sealwhich is elective to bar the passage of air and moisture between thetracks 12 and l13, and the sashes 7 and 8, respectively.

In addition to the double weather seal provided by the packing membersS3, a'further weather seal is provided by cooperation between the wall42 of the extrusion 32 of the upper sash rail 21 and the weather stripunit 17, the wall 42 extending into the contact with and slightlycompressing the felt-like material 19 of the unit 17.

As previously explained, each of the lower sash rails is fabricated froman aluminum extrusion having an approximately H-shaped cross sectionwhich provides a rst U-shaped channel 37 and a second channel 33. Thechannel 38 is provided with side walls 56 and 57 and a base wall 58, forboth the channels 37 and 38. The walls 56 and 57, starting at the basewall 58, converge rapidly toward the center of the channel 38 and arecut back sharply toward the outer surfaces ot' walls 55 and 57 toVprovide shoulders 59 located at about onethird the depth of the channel38 from the wall 58 and which extend longitudinally of the channel 38.The shoulders 59 are adapted to carry the weight of the sash 7 or 8, thestrength of the common wall 58 being considered insuicient for thispurpose. The remaining portion of the walls 56 and 57 are graduallytapered, being thickest adjacent the shoulders 59, and terminate ininwardly directed flanges or heads 61. Each of the channels 38 isadapted to receive a separately fabricated weather strip unit 62, whichis similar in construction and identical in purpose to the units 32. Theunits 62 comprise a resilient U-shaped channel member 63 provided with ahair pile material 64, the material 64 being secured in the channelmember 63 by crimped edges 67 of the member 63 and gluing. The outerdimensions of the unit 62 are approximately equal to the innerdimensions of the channel 38 between the shoulders 59 and the beads 61and, therefore, when the unit 62 is pressed into the channel 38, thebottom of the member 63 seats against the shoulders 59 and the edges ofits walls are positioned just under the beads 61.

When the sashes 7 and 8 are inserted n the -frame 1, one of the rails 12and 13 is positioned within the unit 62, the enlarged square headportions 14 contacting the portion of material 64 adjacent the bottom ofthe member 63. The enlarged square head portion 14 provides a largesmooth contact surface which minimizes the contact pressure between thesash 7 or 8 and thetrack 12 or 13 and equally distributes the pressureover a large area of the hair-pile material 64. The minimization andequal distribution of contact pressure reduces'` wear of the material 64and insures each of movement of the sashes 7 and 8 along the tracks 12and 13.v Further, the metal-to-hair-pile contact enables substantiallynoiseless movement of the sashes 7 and 8 over the rails 12 and 13,respectively.

In addition to providing noiseless operation of the gassosi sashes f7and Sand minimizing wear 'of the weather strip material 64, the largearea of contact between the 'head portions V14 of Vthe rails 412 and 13and the material 64 provides an effective weather tight seal which barsentry of air and moisture between the rails 12Vand 13 and the sashes `7and 8. Additional weather sealing is provided by Contact between thelower edge of the wall `56 of the lower sash rail 22 and the hair pileof the unit 17 disposed between the tracks 12 and 13 of the'sill 3. Thewall 56 exerts only a slight pressure on the hair pile, sufficient `toeffect weather sealing, but insuiiicient to im- .pede movement of thesashes 7 and 8 along the rails `12 and 13.

-In order to prevent the entrance of air and moisture between thelsashes 7 and 8, the stile 24 is provided with an outwardly extendingarcuate member 68 which terminates in an inclined llat surface 69, andsecured between the arcuate member 68 and the stile 24 there is provideda cylindrical packing member 71. v The stile 31 is similarly providedwith an inwardly extending arcuate member 72 which terminates in aninclined fiat surface 73 and secured -between the arcuate member 72 andthe stile 31 is a cylindrical packing member 74. When the sashes 7 and 8are in the closed position as shown in Figure 3, the surface 69 of Vthemember 68 engages the surface 73 of the member 7.2, thereby providing acontinuous seal between the stiles 24 and 31. In addition, the outerextremity of the arcuate member 68 engages the packing member 74 and theinner extremity of the arcuate member 72 engages the `packing member 71.Each of the arcuate members 68 and 72 slightly compresses 'the .packingmembers 74 and 71, respectively, thereby further insuring a weatherproof seal between the sashes 7a`nd 8.

In order to lock the sashes 7 and 8 in the position illustrated inFigure l, the stile 24 of the outer sash 8 is provided with a centrallydisposed keeperV 76 secured to the inner surface thereof and the innersash 7 is provided with a latch 77 disposed on the stile 24 horizontallyadjacent to the keeper 76. The latch 77 consists of a ilat body portion78 extending transversely to the plane of the sashes 7 and 8. The outeredge of the body portion 78 of the latch 77 terminates in an arcuateflange 79 lying in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the bodyportion 78. The inner edge of the body portion 78 is bent at rightangles, inwardly of the stile 24, to providea at plate 81 which may begrasped by the fingers when it is desired to actuate the latch 77. Thelatch 77 is rotatably mounted on a rivet or bolt 82 which extendsthrough an aperture 83 in the end of the stile 24 and into engagementwith a block or plate 84 disposed within the U-shaped channel 39 of thestile 24. Spacers 86 are disposed on the bolt 82 on either side of thelatch 77 to insure easy rotation thereof. The keeper 76 consists of aleg 87 secured to the inner side of the stile 31, and a body portion 88disposed horizontally adjacent to the latch 77. The body portion 88contains an aperture 89 which communicates with two further apertures 91extending horizontally from either end of the aperture 89. When thelatch 77 is rotated into latching position the body portion 78 of thelatch 77 enters the aperture 89 and the ange 79 of the latch 77 entersrst one and then the other of the apertures 91 thereby providing asecure engagement between the latch 77 and the keeper 76.

It is usually desirable to be able to remove the sashes 7 and 8 from theframe 1 when cleaning the sashes or to provide a larger opening in warmweather. The present invention makes it possible rapidly and easily toremove the sashes from the frame whenever desirable` However, it is alsodesirable to prevent the removal of the sashes from the frame when thesashes are in the closed position so that an intruder may not gainundesired entry through the window. Removal of the sashes from the framewhen the sashes are closed or only partly open is vents further upwardmovement of the sash 7.

prevented by making the portion of each track positioned above the sashin its closed position of such a length that the sash cannot be raisedsutiiciently short to allow the sash to be raised enough to clear itsbottom track. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figure 6 wherein thesash S is in its open position. The track 12 located above sash 8 isshort enough for the sash 8 to be raised suiciently to clear the bottomtrack 12. The position of the track 13 illustrated in Figure 6 is theportion located above the closed portion of sash 7 and is suicientlylong to prevent the sash7 being removed from the trame. Moreparticularly, when the sash is raised the track 13 `engages the bottomof the channel 54 of unit 48 before the bottom of the sash 7 clears thelower rail 13 and pre- The engths et the tracks r2 and 13 respectively,are reversed on the other half of the frame so that if the sashes 7 andS are provided in the other half of the frame the sash 8 may be removedand the sash 7 cannot be removed.

p The construction of the windows of the present invention has beendescribed `particularly with respect to horizontally sliding windows.The construction may be equally well applied to vertical sliding windowconstructions in which case the header and sill constructions would beinterchanged with the jamb constructions and the sash rails would beinter-changed with the sash stiles, and counter balancers installed.

While I have described and illustrated one specific embodiment of thepresent invention, it will become ap'- parent that variations of thespecific details of construction may be resorted to without departingfrom the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

What we claim is:

l. A window sash construction comprising a sash rail having an H-shapedcross section `defining two U-shaped channels extending longitudinallyof said sash, one of said ll-shaped channels having a bottom wall andtapered. side walls thickest at their inner extremities adjacent saidbottom wall and each terminating at its outer extremity in aninwardly-projecting, longitudinally-extending bead, a resilient memberembodying a U-shaped cross section having side walls and a bottom walland deiining a channel extending longitudinally thereof, said U-shapedcross section having outer dimensions substantially equal to the innerdimensions of said one U-shaped channel oi said sash, a packing membersecured in said channel of said resilient member, said resilient memberbeing positioned in said one channel of said sash rail interiorly ofsaid beads, the resiliency of said resilient member maintaining intimatecontact between the walls oi said resilient member and said one channelof said sash rail.

2. A window sash construction comprising a sash rail including aU-shaped cross section defining a channel extending longitudinally ofsaid sash rail, said U-shaped cross section having tapered, inner sidewalls and a bottom wall, said tapered inner side walls being thickest attheir inner extremities adjacent said bottom wall and terminating at itsouter extremity in an inwardly projecting bead, a resilient memberhaving a U-snaped cross section defining a channel extendinglongitudinally thereof, said Li-shaped cross section of said resilientmember having side walls and a bottom wall, and having outer dimensionssubstantially equal to the inner dimensions of said U-shaped crosssection of said sash rail interiorly of said beads, a packing membersecured in said channel ol said resilient member and said resilientmember being positioned in said channel of said sash rail interiorly ofsaid beads, the resiliency of said member maintaining the wallsthereotin contact with the walls or" said channel of said sash rail.

3. A window construction comprising a frame having a sill member, aheader member, and two jamb members, each of said members having twotransversely spaced, longitudinally extending track members,VV twosashes each having a channel defining member for slidably receiving saidtrack members, said channel deiining member cornprising y'a sash railhaving a generally H-shaped cross section dening two U-shaped channelmembers extending longitudinally of said sash, one of said U-shapedchannel members having a bottom wall and tapered side walls, thickest attheir inner extremities adjacent said bottom wall and each terminatingat its outer extremity in an inwardly-projecting,longitudinally-extending bead,l a resilient member embodying a member ofU-shaped cross section having side walls and a bottom wail and defininga channel extending longitudinally thereof, said U-shaped channel memberof said sash having outer dimensions substantially equal to the innerdimensions of said one U-shaped channel member of said sash, a pack- .l

ing member secured in said channel of said resilient member and saidresilient member being positioned in said one channel of said sash railinteriorly of said beads, the resiliency of said resilient membermaintaining intimate contact between the walls of the resilient memberand said one channel of said sash rail, said packing member definingsaid channel for receiving said track members.

4. A window construction comprising a frame having a sill, a header andtwo jambs, each having two transversely-spaced, longitudinally-extendingtracks, a longitudinally extending recess formed in said header betweensaid tracks, a weather strip unit secured in said recess, said unitcomprising an inverted U-shaped member and felt-like weather strippingsecured in said U-shaped member, two sashes each including achanneleshaped sash member having side walls and a bottom wall and eachreceiving one of said tracks between said side walls when said sash isinserted in said frame, the edges of the side walls positioned betweensaid tracks contacting said feltlike weather stripping.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 4, wherein said side wallsare of tapered cross section, thickest at their inner extremitiesadjacent said bottom wall and each terminating at its outer extremity inan inwardly projecting bead, a resilient member having a U-shaped crosssection defining a channel extending longitudinally thereof, saidresilient member having outer dimensions substantially equal to thedimensions of said channel of said sash member interiorly of said beads,and being positioned therein, a packing member secured in said channelof said resilientmember and dening a channel for receiving said tracksof said header.

6. A window construction comprising a frame having at least a sill and aheader, said sill having two longitudinal15J-extending,transversely-spaced tracks, a weather strip unit extendinglongitudinally of said sill between said tracks, two sashes eachincluding a channel shaped lower sash member having side walls and abottom wall and each receiving one of said tracks between said sidewalls when said sash is positioned in said frame, the edges of the sidewalls positioned between said tracks contacting said Weather strip unit.

7. The combination in accordance with claim 6, wherein said tracksinclude a rectangular body portion and an enlarged square head portion,

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,181,331 Metzger May 2, 1916 1,975,275 Hopkins Oct. 2, 1934 2 16,754Edwards et al. May 10, 1938 2,192,519 King Mar. 5, 1940 2,207,772 AxeJuly 16, 1940 2,325,263 McMillan July 27, 1943 2,572,124 Eichner Oct.23, 1951 2,663,917 Peterson Dec. 29, 1953 2,685,110 Hauck Aug. 3, 19542,694,840 Smith Nov; 23, 1954 2,699,204 Davis Ian. 11, 1955 FOREGNPATENTS 662,248 Great Britain Dec. 5,1951

